Apple Defeats India’s National ID App Pre-Install Plan

The Indian government has officially scrapped a proposal that would have required Apple and other smartphone makers to pre-install the national biometric ID app, Aadhaar, on all new devices (via Reuters).

This decision marks a significant victory for Apple, which had raised serious alarms over the plan’s potential impact on user privacy and security. The move comes after months of quiet tension between New Delhi and the tech industry. The government originally wanted the app pre-loaded to help citizens access services like banking and digital verification more easily.

Apple was particularly vocal in its opposition to the plan. Sources familiar with the discussions noted that the company was concerned about integrating third-party government software so deeply into the iOS ecosystem. Apple’s internal policy generally forbids the pre-installation of non-essential third-party apps to maintain a clean and secure user experience

There were also technical worries. Apple argued that forcing a specific app onto phones sold only in India would require separate manufacturing and software lines. This would not only drive up costs but also complicate Apple’s streamlined global supply chain.

Privacy advocates and industry bodies, including the Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAIT), backed the pushback. They pointed out that Aadhaar, which holds the biometric data of over 1.3 billion people, has faced criticism in the past over data leaks.

By forcing the app onto every device, critics feared the government could create a backdoor for surveillance. Apple has historically fought against government efforts to weaken encryption or mandate software pre-loads, famously clashing with the FBI in the past.